An Investigation of Mindfulness-Based Metaphors in the Poems of Rumi

Mindfulness, as a new therapy method, has its roots in the culture of the East. The aim of this study is to identify the cultural and mindfulness-based metaphors in the Rumi's Masnavi (three chapters of first book).

The current research analyzes the content of the above-mentioned section of Masnavi. The sampling was targeted and 1027 metaphors were identified. The metaphors attributed to the 9 components of mindfulness were identified, and their abundance was also cosidered. MAXQDA coding software was used to analyze the extracted data.

The investigations showed that the number of the metaphors in the first chapter was two times more than the second and third chapters. The metaphors related to the components of mindfulness according to the number were sorted as follows: the non-striving, trust (confidence), non-judging, generoslty (kindness), patience, acceptance and gratitude, beginner's mind and letting go. In other words, the non-striving and letting go were respectively used most and least frequently. The sub-components of surrender, non-fighting and silence were identified for the non-striving component. The sub-components of insight, inclusiveness, and non-comparing was distinguished for the non-judging component . In addition, based on the researched metaphors and the concept of mindfulness, four new components of awareful action, observation and describing, understand (empathy) and balance, as other components of mindfulness were also discovered.

For the means of facilitating the conveyance of concepts, education and therapy with cognitive-based mindfulness, it is suggested that  therapists and counselors use the folk and cultural metaphors in the poems of Rumi.